El Filibusterismo Chapter 7: Simoun

(This is one of the more powerful chapters of Jose Rizal’s El Filibusterismo. Take
note of conversation between Basilio and Simoun. You simply have got to read the
book, folks.)

Basilio is about to leave his mother’s grave when he notices someone approaching
the balete tree. Remember, it is deep in the night and Filipinos attribute
supernatural things to balete trees which are believed to house evil spirits and other
creatures of middle earth.

The newcomer turns out to be Simoun, the jeweler. He has a spade and begins
digging for the treasure buried thirteen years ago. Basilio tries to figure out whether
Simoun is Elias or Ibarra.

Basilio never did go for the treasure all these years because the stranger (Elias) told
him that he could get the treasure only if no one else came looking for it. On the
night Elias died, Crisostomo Ibarra (refer to the Noli Me Tangere) went to the forest
and helped Basilio bury Sisa and cremate Elias.

Without waiting to be discovered, Basilio announces his presence and acknowledges

Simoun as the person who helped Basilio bury his mother, Sisa more than a decade
ago. Simoun points a revolver at Basilio.